WE REAP WHAT WE SOW
ARE CHURCH LEADERS FAILING US?
By Paul Walter
February 26, 2002
NewsWithViews.com
In 1992, a political group known as the Oregon Citizens Alliance (OCA) had an initiative on the November ballot known as Measure 9. The measure prohibited the state from granting 'Special Rights' to a group of people, based on their sexual orientation. On October 13, 1992 a Letter to the Editor appeared in the Grants Pass, Oregon, Daily Courier titled: "Many Churches Uniting To Oppose Measure 9". It was signed by Rev. Lorenz Schultz of Newman United Methodist Church, condemning OCA's Measure.
On October 17, 1992, another letter appeared in the same paper, titled: "Church leaders present opposition to Measure 9". This letter was signed by pastors from 5 different churches. They were; Pastor Steve Parker, Robert C. Chapin, Rev. James T. Boston of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Rev. Don Carlson of Calvary Lutheran Church, and Rev. Karl Schray of St. Ann's Catholic Church. Their letter, approximately 275 words, is too lengthy to print in its entirety, but here is an excerpt:
"We oppose measure 9 because we find its spirit and intent contrary to the life and witness of Jesus Christ in the Bible and in Christian tradition. ..."
The rest of their letter implied that Measure 9 creates a climate of fear. Measure 9 lost 638,527 to 828,290. It said government cannot facilitate, must discourage homosexuality and other "Behaviors" (source: Oregon Blue Book). In other words, state could not grant "special minority status" to a group of people that want recognition for for their chosen lifestyle. With the defeat of the measure, and with the help of the churches, the gay community and their agenda appear to be unstoppable in Oregon.
A short period after the election, I noticed that in the comic section of the Courier "For Better Or Worse" introduced a gay character. I was shocked and upset because children read the 'funnies'. I spoke to the editor, Dennis Roller, hoping to convince him to remove the comic for the sake of the children. He refused, and continued to run the cartoon. When I showed up with a group of picketers, he decided to move the offensive cartoon out of the comic section and placed it on the editorial page. We picketed the paper for over 2 months, and guess what? I was condemned by some local pastors who labeled me a 'trouble-maker', as the rest of the pastors remained silent.
Then on January 31, 1994, Courier ran a story on the Entertainment page 12A, titled:
"Hothead's no Supergirl" "This comic book heroine is a homicidal lesbian terrorist avenger - but draws a variety of fans."
The article continues:
"In the first issue, published in 1991, Hothead shoots a woman-hater in the back and uses an ax to chop off the sexual organ of a man who tells her: 'You just ain't had da right one yet!!'
And that's all just on the first page. In other issues, Hothead goes on a rampage in a supermarket, using a shotgun to blast away at all the beauty aids and feminine hygiene products, and pushes a giant billboard featuring a scantily clad woman off a building and onto a group of male advertising executives admiring their work.
This is a small paragraph out of the story that took up almost the entire page. Believe it or not, at the end of the story it received an endorsement from the editor. Read the entire article for your self. Caution! This violence may not be suitable for all members of your family.
Seeing this trash in a small, family oriented community newspaper and realizing that the article was promoting violence, I felt compelled to take action. I had 500 copies of this article reproduced at a local printer. Then distributed the copies around town, hoping to wake up the church leaders. I soon discovered the interest was non-existent. In fact, the larger the church, the smaller the interest. I was told by one local pastor that his church doesn't get politically involved!
Isn't it strange they didn't have a bit of trouble taking a political stand against measure 9 to protect the gay community. But, when it comes to protecting the morals of our children and everything that's good and wholesome, all of a sudden they become 'politically correct'. On top of that they persecute those that are doing what they should be doing -- exposing evil. "Woe onto them that call evil good, and good evil; ...." (Isaiah:.5:20)
So, why am I writing about things that happened years ago? Simply to show that we reap what we sow. many problems we face today could have been averted if people had the courage and the fortitude to take a stand when the opportunity arose. It's easy to put out a fire in it's infancy. It's a lot harder when the whole forest is being consumed.
Evil flourishes in a climate of complacency and apathy. Everyone wants to eat, no one wants to prepare the meal or wash the dishes. We all want to live in a world of peace and harmony but no one wants to stick their neck out. The motto seems to be 'if we appease it, maybe we can live in peace with it'. If we believe that, then the tooth fairy is real. Good and evil have been at war since the world began. But today we're told that every thing is gray; that black and white no longer exist. What they're trying to convince us, that good and evil have compromised and are now in partnership.
Currently, OCA has another state initiative that is being circulated in Oregon. Initiative No.16. Lon Mabon, OCA's founder and president hasn't given up. They are in the process of gathering signatures for the November 5, 2002 election. The measure would prohibit public schools from teaching homosexuality. The deadline for the signatures is July 5, 2002. They are in great need of your support. Anyone wishing to donate money or their time, may contact: Amber Bowen, 503-463-0653, or write to: Oregon Citizens Alliance, P. O. Box 9276, Brooks, OR. 97305
Currently there is an attempt by the gay community to stop Lon Mabon and Initiative 16. Read; "Another Patriot Jailed" by Betty Freauf.
Paul Walter was born in socialist Yugoslavia in 1945. He and his family emigrated to America in 1959. He served 3 years in the U.S. Armed Forces and became a U.S. citizen in 1963. Owner of Walter Publishing & Research, he republished a 100 year old book titled The Coming Battle, the true history of our national debt. The book is currently in its 5th printing. E-mail walter@internetcds.com
